Barriers encountered when recruiting obese pregnant women to a dietary intervention

Obesity in pregnancy is increasing. It carries significant risks for the mother and her baby, and has considerable implications for the family and maternity services. Specific guidelines have been developed for the identification and management of the associated clinical risks, but there is little evidence of an optimum dietary intervention for these mothers who are at high risk of developing them.

This study assessed the feasibility of recruiting individuals to a proposed dietary intervention project aimed at reducingthe incidence of excessive weight gain during pregnancy for mothers with a raised body mass index (BMI) in early pregnancy.

Women in early pregnancy (8-10 weeks) with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 were identified and offered the opportunity to participate in aproject that delivered specific dietary advice and ongoing motivational support at the time of the routine antenatal appointments that took place throughout their pregnancy.

Over a four month period, 25 women out of a potential 172 were recruited into the study; a recruitment rate of 14.5%. Midwives were crucial to the recruitment strategy, but cited personal and professional reasons for their reluctance to address directly the issue of obesityin pregnancy with pregnant women.

Recruitment for this study and any future obesity intervention study is problematic due to the perceived sensitivity surrounding obesity in pregnancy and the subsequent discomfort that professionals feel about raising the issue.